Apparatus and method for treating yarn

ABSTRACT

In an apparatus for winding yarn comprising means for holding a yarn package support onto which support the yarn is to be wound, a rotationally driven roller for engaging the surface of the yarn package support upon threading-up and thereafter the surface of the package of yarn being formed on the support thereby to define a nip with and rotationally to drive the yarn package support and the yarn package being formed thereon, a traverse guide for guiding the yarn to the nip whereupon the yarn is wound onto the package support, and means for reciprocating the traverse guide relative to the rotating package support thereby to distribute windings of the yarn on the package support, the improvement in which the traverse guide comprises means defining at least two surfaces for passage of the yarn in contact therewith in a zigzag path, the traverse guide thereby being adapted to maintain the arrangement of a yarn fed thereto which yarn is constituted of a plurality of ends arranged in mutually parallel side by side relation.

United States Patent [1 1 Norwood Mar. 11, 1975 1 APPARATUS AND METHODFOR TREATING YARN [75] Inventor: David W. Norwood, Baltimore, Md.

[73] Assignee: Concorde Fibers 1nc., Columbia,

[22] Filed: July 23, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 382,103

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 172,704,Aug. 18, 1971,

abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. 242/18 A, 242/42, 242/157 R [51] Int. Cl B6511 54/02 [58]Field of Search 242/18 A, 42, 38, 40, 43, 242/157 R [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 653,831 7/1900 Tymeson et al. 242/421,966,507 7/1934 Langstreth 242/42 2,092,81 l 9/1937 Moncrieff et al.242/42 2,623,701 12/1952 Nuttle 242/42 3345003 10/1967 Mattingly et al242/18 A 3,371,877 3/1968 Klink et al. 242/42 X Primary Examiner-StanleyN. Gilreath Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Nolte and Nolte [57] ABSTRACT In anapparatus for winding yarn comprising means for holding a yarn packagesupport onto which support the yarn is to be wound, a rotationallydriven roller for engaging the surface of the yarn package support uponthreading-up and thereafter the surface of the package of yarn beingformed on the support thereby to define a nip with and rotationally todrive the yarn package support and the yarn package being formedthereon, a traverse guide for guiding the yarn to the nip whereupon theyarn is wound onto the package support, and means for reciprocating thetraverse guide relative to the rotating package support thereby todistribute windings of the yarn on the package support, the improvementin which the traverse guide comprises means defining at least twosurfaces for passage of the yarn in contact'therewith in a zig-zag path,the traverse guide thereby being adapted to maintain the arrangement ofa yarn fed thereto which yarn is constituted of a plurality of endsarranged in mutually parallel side by side relation.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEU 1 I975 INVENTOR 3/1 m: W/VOAWGODATTORNEYS APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TREATING YARN This is a continuation,of application Ser. No. 172,704 Filed Aug. 18, 1971, now abandoned.

This invention relates to improvements in conventional apparatuses andmethods for winding yarn. More specifically, this invention relates toimprovements in such apparatuses and methods to permit the winding of ayarn constituted ofa plurality of ends arranged in mutually parallelside by side relation which winding takes place in such manner that theposition of the ends relative to each other in the wound yarn is thesame as in the unwound yarn.

Apparatuses for winding yarn are known which apparatuses comprise meansfor holding a yarn package support onto which support the yarn is to bewound, a rotationally driven roller for engaging the surface of the yarnpackage support upon threading-up and thereafter the surface of thepackage of yarn being formed on the support thereby to define a nip withand rotationally to drive the yarn package support and the yarn packagebeing formed thereon, a traverse guide for guiding the yarn to the nipwhereupon the yarn is wound'onto the package support and means forreciprocating the traverse guide relative to the rotating packagesupport thereby to distribute windings of the yarn on the packagesupport. Such an apparatus is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No.3,345,003.

Such an apparatus may be employed to wind a yarn constituted of aplurality of ends arranged in mutually parallel side by side relation.In some instances it may be desired that the plural end yarn thus to beWound be of at least two different colors. For example, a heather yarnmay be desired for carpeting. Though such a yarn may appear to involve arandom intermingling of at least two colors, surprisingly it has beenfound that unless the relative positions of the ends which are combinedare controlled, undesirable effects may result. This may manifest itselfparticularly pronouncedly when the yarn is tufted to form carpeting orother pile fabric. Rather than there being an even heather effect,different colors may predominate in variousparts of the carpet.

According to the invention, it has been found possible so to guide theplural ends of yarn in mutually parallel side by side relation duringthe winding that they maintain the same positions relative to each otherthroughout the winding whereupon a predetermined arrangement of theyarns is maintained and a uniform heather effect is achieved.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the aforementionedtraverse guide of the winding apparatus comprises means defining atleast two surfaces for passage of the yarn in contact therewith in azig-zag path, the traverse guide thereby being adapted to maintain thearrangement of the yarn fed thereto which yarn is constituted of aplurality of ends arranged in mutually parallel side by side relation.

The aforementioned type of winding apparatus, such as described in U.S.Pat. No. 3,345,003, may further comprise means for holding a second yarnpackage support in juxtaposition to the first yarn package support, asecond rotationally driven roll for engaging the surface of the secondyarn package support upon threading-up and thereafter the surface of thepackage of yarn being formed on the support thereby to define a nip withand rotationally to drive the second yarn package support and the yarnpackage being formed thereon, a second traverse guide forguiding theyarn to the nip of the rotating second roll and rotating second packagesupport, means for guiding the yarn to the second nip whereupon the yarnis wound on the second package support, means for reciprocating thesecond traverse guide relative to the second package support thereby todistribute windings for the yarn on the second package support, achange-over guide, means for moving the changeover guide from a firstposition for guiding the yarn to the first traverse guide to a secondposition for guiding the yarn to the second traverse guide, and meansfor guiding the yarn to the changeover guide.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the change-overguide and the second traverse guide each comprise means defining atleast two surfaces for passage of the yam in contact therewith in azig-zag path, the means for guiding the yarn to the change-over guideand the second traverse guide each thereby being adapted to maintain thearrangement of the yarn fed thereto which yarn is constituted of aplurality of ends arranged in mutually parallel side by side relation.

Preferably, each of the surfaces of each of the aforementioned guides ofthe invention is defined by an elongated member oriented transversely ofthe path of the yarn in contact with the member.

The invention will now further be described by reference to a specificembodiment thereof, as illustrated i the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the type of winding apparatus asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,345,003 and incorporating an arrangement ofyarn guides according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is aschematic illustration of part of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of one of the yarn guides of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the yarn guide of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation of the yarn guide of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged isometric view of one of the yarn guides of FIG.1; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged isometric view of another of the yarn guides ofFIG. I.

From the periphery of a toothed wheel 10, representing the setting zoneof a drawing-stuffer box crimping apparatus of the type described inU.S. Pat. No. 3,454,998, is withdrawn a yarn l1 constituted of four endsarranged in mutually parallel side by side relation (FIG. 1). In thisparticular example, a first'of the ends is red, a second is yellow, athird is brown and the fourth is orange and each of the ends-is /6 (150denier, 6 filament). The withdrawing of the yarn is effected by acounterclockwise driven rubber-surfaced roll 12 (FIG. 2) which forms anip first with a yarn package support 13 mounted on a mandrel 14, uponthreading-up, and subsequently with the yarn package 15 formed on theyarn package support (FIG. I). It will be appreciated that surfaceengagement of the counterclockwise driven roll 12 drives first the yarnpackage support 13 and then the yarn package itself 15 in clockwisedirection. The mandrel 14 is free to rise as the yarn package 15 builds.As seen in FIG. I, there is actually a pair of yarn package supports 13though only one of them is visible and sequentially upon each is formeda respective yarn package 15.

From the toothed wheel the yarn travels first between a pair of guidepins or pulleys l6 and 17, then through yarn guide 18, then through theeyelet 19a of a change-over guide 19 and then through traverse guide 20or 20' to the nip between the roll 12 and the yarn package support 13 orthe yarn package 15. It is readily apparent that the yarn guide 20 is amirror image of the yarn guide 20.

In FIG. 1, since the arm 19b of the change-over guide 19 is cocked tothe left, yarn is being wound on the lefthand package support. When afull package of yarn has formed on the left-hand package support, thechangeover guide 19 will then be actuated to cock to the right to beginwinding on the right-hand package support. In the meantime, the fullpackage will be removed from the left-hand side of the apparatus and anempty package support placed on the left-hand side of the mandrel sothat the apparatus will be ready for cocking of the arm 19b back to theleft when the right-hand package support has been filled with yarn. Inlike manner, this switching back and forth may be continued indefinitelyto provide continuous operation.

The yarn guide 18 is comprised of a back plate 18a and rods 18b and 18c(FIGS. 1, 7). It will be seen that the yarn guide thus formed issymmetrical so that each side of the yarn guide 18 is a mirror image ofthe other side so that the yarn is guided in the same fashion whetheronto the left-hand package support or onto the right-hand packagesupport. The rods 18a and 1812 are so positioned that the yarn 11travels a zig-Zag path and the resultant tensioning of the yarn 11across the surfaces defined by the rods 18b and 18c maintains the endsin their aforesaid mutually parallel side by side relation.

The yarn guide 20 is formed of a back plate 20a a side plate 20b androds 20c and 20d. The guide 20' is correspondingly formed of a backplate 20a, a side plate 20'b and rods 20a and 20'd. In the back plate20a is formed a notch 202 and in the back plate 20a is formed acorresponding notch 20'e. It will thus be appreciated that therespective back plates 20a and 20a with their respective notches 20e and20'e correspond essentially to a conventional traverse guide. The rods20c and 20d or 20'c and 20'd represent the modification according to thepresent invention which maintains the yarn during the traversing in themutually parallel side by side arrangement of the ends. The rods 20c and20d or 20a and 20'd are so arranged that the yarn travels a zig-zag pathin travelling in contact with surfaces defined by the rods. Theresultant tensioning of the yarn in contact with the surfaces defined bythe rods 20c and 20d or 20a and 20'd maintains the ends in the aforesaidmutually parallel side by side relation. Hence, the arrangement of theends in the yarn 11 is the same on the package as it was when the yarn11 left the toothed wheel 10.

The foregoing detailed description of the invention is an illustrationof and not a limitation upon the scope of the invention as defined bythe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for winding yarn comprising means for holding a yarnpackage support onto which support the yarn is to be wound, arotationally driven roller for engaging the surface of the yarn packagesupport upon threading-up and thereafter the surface of the package ofyarn being formed on the support thereby to define a nip with androtationally to drive the yarn package support and the yarn packagebeing formed thereon, a traverse guide for guiding the yarn to said nipwhereupon the yarn is wound onto the package support, means forreciprocating the traverse guide relative to the rotating packagesupport thereby to distribute windings of the yarn on the packagesupport, means for holding a second yarn package support injuxtaposition to the first yarn package support, a second rotationallydriven roller for engaging the surface of the second yarn packagesupport upon threading-up and thereafter the surface of the package ofyarn being formed on the support thereby to define a nip with androtationally to drive the second yarn package support and the yarnpackage being formed thereon, a second traverse guide for guiding theyarn to said nip of the rotating second roller and rotating secondpackage support, means for guiding the yarn to the second nip whereuponthe yarn is wound on the second package support, means for reciprocatingthe second traverse guide relative to the second package support therebyto distribute windings of the yarn on the second package support, achangeover guide, means for moving said change-over guide from a firstposition for guiding the yarn to the first traverse guide to a secondposition for guiding the yarn to the second traverse guide, and meansfor guiding the yarn to the change-over guide, the improvement in whichthe means for guiding the yarn to the changeover guide and the twotraverse guides each comprise means defining at least two surfaces forpassage of the yarn in Contact therewith in a zig-zag path, said meansfor guiding the yarn to the change-over guide and the two traverseguides each thereby being adapted to maintain the arrangement of a yarnfed thereto which yarn is constituted of a plurality of ends arranged inmutually parallel side by side relation.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which each of the surfaces ofeach of the second traverse guide and the means for guiding the yarn tothe change-over guide is defined by an elongated member orientedtransversely of the path of the yarn in contact with the member.

3. In a method for winding yarn, constituted of a plurality of endsarranged in mutually parallel side by side relation, onto a yarn packagesupport, comprising rotationally driving the support by arranging thesupport in contact with a roller for engagement of the roller with thesurface of the support during threading-up and thereafter with thesurface of the package of yarn being formed on the support whereby theroller forms a nip first with the support and thereafter with the yarnpackage being formed on the support, guiding a yarn. to the nip,rotationally driving the roller thereby to wind the yarn on the supportand simultaneously reciprocating the yarn relative to the supportthereby to distribute windings of the yarn on the support, guiding theyarn into engagement with change-over guide means for guiding the yarnalternatively to the vicinity of the first package support or to thevicinity of a second package support in juxtaposition to the firstpackage support and for transporting the yarn therebetween, after thedesired quantity of yarn has been wound on the first package supportactuating the change-over guide means to transport the yarn to thevicinity of the second package support, rotationally driving the secondsupport by arranging the second support in contact with a second rollerfor engagement of the second roller with the surface of the secondsupport during threading-up and thereafter with the surface of thepackage of yarn being formed on the support whereby the second rollerforms a nip first with the second support and thereafter with the yarnpackage being formed on the second support, guiding the yarn to the nipof the second roller and second package support, rotationally drivingthe roller thereby to wind the yarn on the second support andsimultaneously reciprocating the yarn relative to the second supportthereby to distribute windings of the yarn on the second support, theimprovement in which the guiding of the yarn into engagement with thechange-over means and the guiding of the yarn to the two nips eachcomprise passing the yarn in a zig-zag path in contact with a pluralityof surfaces thereby to maintain said arrangement of the yarn ends.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the change-over guide andthe two traverse guides each comprise means defining at least twosurfaces without interposition of surface-defining means between anypair of mutually parallel ends of which the yarn is comprised, each ofsaid guides thereby being adapted to maintain said yarn arrangementsolely by the tension imparted to the yarn by the passage of the yarn incontact with said at least two surfaces.

5. A method according to claim 3, in which each of the passings of theyarn in a zig-zag path in contact with a plurality of surfaces isconducted without interposition of surface-defining means between anypair of mutually parallel ends of which the yarn is comprised wherebythe maintaining of said arrangement is solely by the tension imparted tothe yarn by the passage of the yarn in contact with said at least twosurfaces.

1. In an apparatus for winding yarn comprising means for holding a yarnpackage support onto which support the yarn is to be wound, arotationally driven roller for engaging the surface of the yarn packagesuppOrt upon threading-up and thereafter the surface of the package ofyarn being formed on the support thereby to define a nip with androtationally to drive the yarn package support and the yarn packagebeing formed thereon, a traverse guide for guiding the yarn to said nipwhereupon the yarn is wound onto the package support, means forreciprocating the traverse guide relative to the rotating packagesupport thereby to distribute windings of the yarn on the packagesupport, means for holding a second yarn package support injuxtaposition to the first yarn package support, a second rotationallydriven roller for engaging the surface of the second yarn packagesupport upon threading-up and thereafter the surface of the package ofyarn being formed on the support thereby to define a nip with androtationally to drive the second yarn package support and the yarnpackage being formed thereon, a second traverse guide for guiding theyarn to said nip of the rotating second roller and rotating secondpackage support, means for guiding the yarn to the second nip whereuponthe yarn is wound on the second package support, means for reciprocatingthe second traverse guide relative to the second package support therebyto distribute windings of the yarn on the second package support, achange-over guide, means for moving said change-over guide from a firstposition for guiding the yarn to the first traverse guide to a secondposition for guiding the yarn to the second traverse guide, and meansfor guiding the yarn to the change-over guide, the improvement in whichthe means for guiding the yarn to the change-over guide and the twotraverse guides each comprise means defining at least two surfaces forpassage of the yarn in contact therewith in a zig-zag path, said meansfor guiding the yarn to the change-over guide and the two traverseguides each thereby being adapted to maintain the arrangement of a yarnfed thereto which yarn is constituted of a plurality of ends arranged inmutually parallel side by side relation.
 1. In an apparatus for windingyarn comprising means for holding a yarn package support onto whichsupport the yarn is to be wound, a rotationally driven roller forengaging the surface of the yarn package suppOrt upon threading-up andthereafter the surface of the package of yarn being formed on thesupport thereby to define a nip with and rotationally to drive the yarnpackage support and the yarn package being formed thereon, a traverseguide for guiding the yarn to said nip whereupon the yarn is wound ontothe package support, means for reciprocating the traverse guide relativeto the rotating package support thereby to distribute windings of theyarn on the package support, means for holding a second yarn packagesupport in juxtaposition to the first yarn package support, a secondrotationally driven roller for engaging the surface of the second yarnpackage support upon threading-up and thereafter the surface of thepackage of yarn being formed on the support thereby to define a nip withand rotationally to drive the second yarn package support and the yarnpackage being formed thereon, a second traverse guide for guiding theyarn to said nip of the rotating second roller and rotating secondpackage support, means for guiding the yarn to the second nip whereuponthe yarn is wound on the second package support, means for reciprocatingthe second traverse guide relative to the second package support therebyto distribute windings of the yarn on the second package support, achange-over guide, means for moving said change-over guide from a firstposition for guiding the yarn to the first traverse guide to a secondposition for guiding the yarn to the second traverse guide, and meansfor guiding the yarn to the change-over guide, the improvement in whichthe means for guiding the yarn to the change-over guide and the twotraverse guides each comprise means defining at least two surfaces forpassage of the yarn in contact therewith in a zig-zag path, said meansfor guiding the yarn to the change-over guide and the two traverseguides each thereby being adapted to maintain the arrangement of a yarnfed thereto which yarn is constituted of a plurality of ends arranged inmutually parallel side by side relation.
 2. An apparatus according toclaim 1 in which each of the surfaces of each of the second traverseguide and the means for guiding the yarn to the change-over guide isdefined by an elongated member oriented transversely of the path of theyarn in contact with the member.
 3. In a method for winding yarn,constituted of a plurality of ends arranged in mutually parallel side byside relation, onto a yarn package support, comprising rotationallydriving the support by arranging the support in contact with a rollerfor engagement of the roller with the surface of the support duringthreading-up and thereafter with the surface of the package of yarnbeing formed on the support whereby the roller forms a nip first withthe support and thereafter with the yarn package being formed on thesupport, guiding a yarn to the nip, rotationally driving the rollerthereby to wind the yarn on the support and simultaneously reciprocatingthe yarn relative to the support thereby to distribute windings of theyarn on the support, guiding the yarn into engagement with change-overguide means for guiding the yarn alternatively to the vicinity of thefirst package support or to the vicinity of a second package support injuxtaposition to the first package support and for transporting the yarntherebetween, after the desired quantity of yarn has been wound on thefirst package support actuating the change-over guide means to transportthe yarn to the vicinity of the second package support, rotationallydriving the second support by arranging the second support in contactwith a second roller for engagement of the second roller with thesurface of the second support during threading-up and thereafter withthe surface of the package of yarn being formed on the support wherebythe second roller forms a nip first with the second support andthereafter with the yarn package being formed on the second support,guiding the yarn to the nip of the second roller and second packagesupport, rOtationally driving the roller thereby to wind the yarn on thesecond support and simultaneously reciprocating the yarn relative to thesecond support thereby to distribute windings of the yarn on the secondsupport, the improvement in which the guiding of the yarn intoengagement with the change-over means and the guiding of the yarn to thetwo nips each comprise passing the yarn in a zig-zag path in contactwith a plurality of surfaces thereby to maintain said arrangement of theyarn ends.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which thechange-over guide and the two traverse guides each comprise meansdefining at least two surfaces without interposition of surface-definingmeans between any pair of mutually parallel ends of which the yarn iscomprised, each of said guides thereby being adapted to maintain saidyarn arrangement solely by the tension imparted to the yarn by thepassage of the yarn in contact with said at least two surfaces.